Painted Banner (Thangka) of Green Tara Surrounded by Twenty Manifestations
18th century
Medium
Pigment on cloth
Dimensions
53.8 × 34.8 cm (21 3/16 × 13 3/4 in.)
Classification
miniature painting
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
65926
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 18th-century thangka, a traditional Tibetan painted banner, depicts Green Tara, the compassionate bodhisattva revered in Tibetan Buddhism as a swift protector and embodiment of enlightened activity. At the center, she is surrounded by her twenty manifestations—various forms that highlight her boundless wisdom and mercy—arranged in a vibrant mandala-like composition. Measuring just 53.8 × 34.8 cm, this painting on cloth exemplifies the portable devotion art carried by pilgrims and used in rituals or meditation. Created with pigments applied in fine layers on cloth, the artwork s...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...